FKA Twigs has developed a deepfake version of herself using artificial intelligence (AI) to interact with her fans.
The British musician, real name Tahliah Barnett, revealed the news in a written testimony in which she highlighted how the technology can be used when a celebrity has consent and control over it.
“In the past year, I have developed my own deepfake version of myself that is not only trained in my personality but also can use my exact tone of voice to speak many languages,” she wrote, reports Rolling Stone. “I will be engaging my AI twigs later this year to extend my reach and handle my online social media interactions, whilst I continue to focus on my art from the comfort and solace of my studio. These and similar emerging technologies are highly valuable tools both artistically and commercially when under the control of the artist.”
The 36-year-old singer-songwriter is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property in Washington D.C. on Tuesday regarding the NO FAKES Act, which aims to protect public figures from the unauthorised use of names, images and likenesses for AI.
In her written testimony, which was published on Tuesday morning, Twigs warned that celebrities’ careers and livelihoods would be in jeopardy if the technology was not properly regulated.
“That the very essence of our being at its most human level can be violated by the unscrupulous use of AI to create a digital facsimile that purports to be us, and our work, is inherently wrong,” she continued. “It is therefore vital that as an industry and as legislators we work together to ensure we do all we can to protect our creative and intellectual rights as well as the very basis of who we are.”
Twigs will speak during the hearing alongside Robert Kyncl, the CEO of her record label Warner Music Group, and representatives from the Motion Picture Association and the performers’ union SAG-AFTRA.
Deepfakes are pictures and videos that have been digitally manipulated to replace one person’s likeness with that of another.
